What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 11/19/2021, the student pilot operating N221HG during solo operations had a loss of control after lifting the aircraft off the ramp area. The pilot attempted to counteract the torque by applying pedal control. The pilot's input was excessive and required opposite control, which was also excessive. At this point, the pilot attempted to correct by reducing the collective, but this action was not sufficient to stop the oscillations and the helicopter began to rotate out of his control. The helicopter rotated around 360 degrees, and struck the tail on the ramp breaking off the tail rotor. The helicopter dropped back to the ramp with enough force to break the skids support.
As the FAA filed it
ON 11/19/2021, THE STUDENT PILOT OPERATING N221HG DURING SOLO OPERATIONS HAD A LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER LIFTING THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RAMP AREA. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO COUNTERACT THE TORQUE BY APPLYING PEDAL CONTROL. THE PILOT'S INPUT WAS EXCESSIVE AND REQUIRED OPPOSITE CONTROL, WHICH WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE. AT THIS POINT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BY REDUCING THE COLLECTIVE, BUT THIS ACTION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE OSCILLATIONS AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROTATE OUT OF HIS CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED AROUND 360 DEGREES, AND STRUCK THE TAIL ON THE RAMP BREAKING OFF THE TAIL ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER DROPPED BACK TO THE RAMP WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK THE SKIDS SUPPORT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.